How the Filmation series and ”Masters of the Universe: Revelation” is connected.

It’s not a reboot. It’s not a retelling.

There has been a great deal of confusion among the fan community in regards to what exactly is “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” in regards to its continuity. Fortunately the answer has always been out there for one who is willing to look for it. The new Netflix series by showrunner Kevin Smith is an adult continuation of the classic 1983 Filmation series “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe”.

Now Revelation can’t officially and legally be an authorized continuation or sequel to the Filmation show mind you. It can’t use the same music, nor the same art. He-Man and friends cannot look like the Filmation He-Man and friends, neither can its foes, nor its structures. This is because Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (not Mattel) owns the rights to the classic Filmation series, and to proclaim it officially connected would require a contract to be struck between Mattel and Universal. So to avoid any legal issues (and sharing of profits), the connections between the 1983 Filmation series and its 2021 Netflix adult counterpart had to be less specific. It had to be called a spiritual sequel for instance.

Or it was called “a direct sequel series to the classic era”.

Generically calling it a “sequel to the 80’s classic” also works, which is how it’s listed on the official Netflix website:

But, make no mistake, “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” is indeed a continuation of the 1983 Filmation series “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe”.

As per Kevin Smith:

“Narratively our show is set up as the next episode in the legacy ‘80s animated series that aired from 1983-1985,” says Smith. “This is a continuation of that story. We’re playing with the original mythology and characters, and revisiting and digging deeper into some of the unresolved storylines.”

Kevin SMITH – EMpireonline

Back in August 2021 after Part One aired, Revelation Executive Producer (and boss to Kevin Smith) Ted Biaselli expanded upon this when he appeared on the ToyGalaxy Twitch channel. Ted further detailed that all the episodes in the classic 1983 Filmation series count in “Masters of the Universe: Revelation”, less three creative changes they opted to make. (Information on those creative changes can be found HERE.)

So other than some minor changes, “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” followed the 1983 Filmation Series lore very closely. The Filmation series was basically the foundation that Revelation was built upon.

And there you go. It’s important to note that when aspects did not have explanations in the Filmation show (which happened a lot), lore was pulled from other sources. No origin of Castle Grayskull in the Filmation series? The 1983 Kid Stuff MOTU Record LP filled that story. No Vahalla or Hell in Filmation either? Both “Preternia” and “Subternia” were modified and used.

Basically, the creators behind “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” pulled from and nodded multiple MOTU sources when they were expanding into new territory. Like inserting the fan favorite Pigboy from the 1987 feature film into the series, plenty of new elements were taken and sometimes heavily modified from other iterations of the MOTU IP, then added into this adult continuation of the Filmation series.

Postscript:

Even though "Masters of the Universe: Revelation" was originally promoted as a spiritual sequel to the 1983 classic (Filmation) series, the producers have since distanced Revelation and subsequent narratives from that classic "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" continuity.